Silicon Investor (SI) -- The First Internet Community

STOCKTALK

We've detected that you're using an ad content blocking browser plug-in or feature. Ads provide a critical source of revenue to the continued operation of Silicon Investor. We ask that you disable ad blocking while on Silicon Investor in the best interests of our community. If you are not using an ad blocker but are still receiving this message, make sure your browser's tracking protection is set to the 'standard' level.

Strategies & Market Trends : Asia Forum -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Stitch who wrote (862)	1/14/1998 11:48:00 PM
From: Rmn	Respond to of 9980

Stitch, it must be unbelievable what that country is going through, culturaly and financially. Tax cuts or no tax cuts, I think they are headed for harder times. Ramsey

To: Stitch who wrote (862)	1/15/1998 11:21:00 AM
From: Geoff Nunn	Read Replies (2) \| Respond to of 9980

Stitch, I'm skeptical of the argument that xenophobia underlies Japanese protectionism. Guess I've just read too many media accounts of how readily the Japanese have taken to things Western, especially American pop culture (movies, music, baseball, McDonald's, even English expressions) ever since the days of MacArthur. Perhaps you were really thinking of the French. <G> Let me suggest another explanation. Japan seems to view a trade surplus as desirable in itself, much like the Spanish mercantilists did in the 17-18 centuries. State policy was to maximize exports, minimize imports, and accumulate a surplus. Spain wanted to accumulate gold whereas Japan's surpluses pay interest (i.e., U.S. Treasury bills). Isn't what we see in Japan just neo-mercantilism? Perhaps the Japanese gov't is projecting a national psyche which is to save as much as, and whenever possible.